Russia, North Korea pledge stronger ties at top-level summit

North Korea's Kim Jong-un and Russia's Vladimir Putin have pledged to boost ties at their first ever summit, BBC News reports.

The pair shook hands on Russky Island near the port city of Vladivostok, in Russia's far east.

The Kremlin said the leaders would discuss denuclearisation, but Mr Kim is also expected to be seeking support after talks with the US collapsed.

The talks in Hanoi with US President Donald Trump failed to reach a deal on North Korea's nuclear programme.

At their opening remarks the Russian and North Korean leaders referred to their two countries' long history of ties and Mr Putin said he wanted to help calm Korean tensions.

"I am confident your visit today to Russia will help us to better understand how we can resolve the situation on the Korean peninsula and what Russia can do to support the positive processes currently taking place," Mr Putin said.

Mr Kim said he hoped for "a very useful meeting in developing the relationship between the two countries, who have a long friendship and history, into a more stable and sound one".